Campaign marathon.

• Author: Zissou, Rebecca
• Position: NATIONAL

It already feels like the presidential election has been going on forever. And there's still almost a year until we cross the finish line.

By the time Election Day rolls around in November 2016, the presidential hopefuls will probably have been out on the campaign trail for more than two years. They'll have spent that time holding rallies, taking part in debates, raising money, and doing anything else they can to promote their candidacies. Compared to most of the world, America's presidential election system is unusually long--and, it seems, getting longer every four years. Why is that? Here's how we ended up with what seem like endless elections.

Why does it take Americans so long?

Many other countries manage to elect their leaders in just a few weeks. The main reason it takes us so much longer is that we spend so much time just deciding which Democratic and Republican candidates will be on the ballot. Each party's presidential contender is chosen in a series of state-by-state primaries and caucuses. These contests typically begin in February of an election year and run through June (see graphic).

In a primary, voters head to polling stations to cast secret ballots. In a caucus, people gather in schools, churches, and private homes to discuss the candidates and publicly make their choices, sometimes with a show of hands. In both cases, voters elect delegates who pledge to support candidates at party conventions in the summer. That's where each party's nominee is officially selected. Nearly four months later--in November--voters cast ballots in the general election.

Other countries skip all the fuss. For example, in the U.K., where party leaders select the nominees, the entire election can take as little as 38 days. And Canada just selected a new prime minister in 78 days, their longest election since 1872.

Has the process gotten longer in recent years?

Yes. That's because the earlier candidates hit the campaign trail, the better their chances of building support in early-voting states. Winning those early races--especially the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary--can propel hopefuls to victories in other states. Candidates who do poorly in the early contests often quickly drop out of the race.

The first declared candidate of 2016Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas--officially kicked off his campaign last March, nearly a year before the first primary and caucuses. At least 16 Republicans and five Democrats have followed. (As...